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The remainder of the Potter household celebrated Christmas and Edith's birthday the next day on the 26th. They ate cake and drank Fleamont's good firewhiskey. Albus even came by, bringing Fawkes along with him.
Edith squealed so loud when she saw the familiar bird. She ran over, completely ignoring Albus as Fawkes flew into her arms.
"You bloody chicken! I've missed you so much!" Edith said as she clutched the Phoenix close to her and twirled around.
The Potters were so sure she'd kill the bloody bird from suffocation with how close she was holding him. They all spent the day opening late christmas and birthday presents.
Sirius was drunk off his arse by now, dancing with Mia around the living room to Dancing Queen which played on Edith's record player she'd moved downstairs.
Edith was even dancing around with Remus, though James kept a good eye on his hand placement on her.
It was Regulus' first christmas. He'd never gotten more than one gift each year. It would always be from Sirius, something small their parents wouldn't notice.
And it was the best Christmas ever. Edith was home. He was out of Grimmauld place. He was with his boyfriend.
It was perfect.
~~
Remus had to go back home that night, Hope had been worried to death for him. He didn't want to leave Edith but she assured him she was perfectly fine.
They still hadn't talked about what happened in the cave. What happened to that wolf. And honestly, Remus didn't think he'd ever be alright talking about it. He'd killed someone. And he could easily do it again.
Never the matter. He wouldn't think about it. He had his mate. She was safe now. He was happy.
~~
Once Remus had left, Edith went into detail with Albus about everything she experienced. Minus what Remus did of course.
"Why didn't you just melt the chains? The cave was vacated when the aurors got to it. We saw where you were held. I've seen you melt much more dense things." Albus asked openly. Sirius was passed out drunk, having to have been dragged up to his room by Goldeye. The other residents of Potter Manor were in the kitchen, giving Albus and Edith some privacy.
Edith was sitting sideways on an armchair, her legs dangling over the arm of the chair. "And what was I supposed to do? Melt the bars, sure. That's the easy part. Then take on an entire pack of wolves by myself? The most I could do was barbeque all of them. But I'm no mass murderer, Albus. That would just make me the same as Tom Bloody Riddle."
Albus nodded. "I understand. The Order is keeping an eye on Mister Lupin along with Greyback. If they hear anything about Greyback, we'll be the first ones to know."
